2 Hours / 2 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Suicide Assessment & Treatment Planning via Tele-Mental Health is presented by John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD.

Suicide assessment and treatment planning is difficult and stressful in person and arguably even more difficult and stressful via tele-mental health. In this program, participants are oriented to a strengths-based approach to suicide assessment and treatment. Additionally, using a role-play and discussion process, Dr. Sommers-Flanagan demonstrates a strengths-focused interactive online interviewing approach and contrasts it alongside common standardized assessment strategies (e.g., the PHQ-9, the ASK, and the Columbia). The discussion focuses on relevant research literature, as well as the pros and cons of supplementing standardized assessment instruments with interactive interviews when using a tele-mental health platform.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe a strengths-based approach to suicide assessment and treatment
  • 2 Demonstrate and analyze an interactive tele-mental health interviewing strategy for suicide assessment and treatment planning
  • 3 Identify and critique standardized suicide assessment instruments that can be used via tele-mental health

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who conduct suicide risk assessments and treatment planning, with a particular emphasis on those providing care in tele-mental health settings. It is suitable for practitioners who work with individuals experiencing acute distress or chronic mental health challenges, including those involved in both direct and supportive roles in mental health care.


    Examples of Relevant Professionals:
    • Mental health professionals (e.g., clinical psychologists, counselors, social workers)
    • Allied professionals involved in mental health care
    • Providers working in tele-mental health settings
    • Practitioners serving individuals with acute or chronic mental health needs

  • Experience Level

    This training is appropriate for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at various stages of experience with suicide assessment and tele-mental health.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to suicide assessment and treatment planning, especially in tele-mental health settings, and seek foundational knowledge of strengths-based and standardized approaches.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience with suicide assessment and treatment, are familiar with standardized instruments, and wish to deepen their skills in integrating strengths-based, interactive interviewing strategies in tele-mental health contexts.

    • Advanced: Participants are highly experienced with suicide assessment and treatment, regularly use both standardized and interactive approaches, and seek to refine their practice through critical analysis of current research and advanced application of strengths-based methods in tele-mental health.

  • Practice Setting

    Practitioners work across tele-mental health and in-person care environments that support individuals in acute distress and those with ongoing mental health needs. These settings emphasize structured suicide risk assessment, strengths-based interactive interviewing, safety planning, rigorous documentation, and collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.


    Examples of Practice Settings:
    • HIPAA-compliant tele-mental health platforms (video/phone)
    • Community mental health clinics
    • Integrated primary care–behavioral health clinics
    • Hospital emergency departments and inpatient psychiatric units
    • Crisis lines, chat, and text services
    • University and college counseling centers
    • Private practice (including fully virtual)
    • Correctional and forensic mental health services

Presented By

John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD Professor of Counseling at the University of Montana

John Sommers-Flanagan is a professor of counseling at the University of Montana, a clinical psychologist, and author or coauthor of over 100 publications, including nine books, and numerous professional video trainings. Some of his books, co-written with his wife Rita, include Tough Kids, Cool Counseling, Clinical Interviewing, Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories in Context and Practice, and Suicide Assessment and Treatment: A Strengths-Based Approach. John is a sought-out keynote speaker and professional workshop trainer in the areas of (a) counseling youth, (b) working with parents, (c) suicide assessment, and (d) happiness. He has published many newspaper columns, Op-Ed pieces, and an article in Slate Magazine. In his wild and precious spare time, John loves to run (slowly), dance (poorly), laugh (loudly), produce home-made family music videos, and create helpful and quirky blogposts at johnsommersflanagan.com.

View More Programs from this Presenter
John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Orientation to a strengths-based approach to suicide assessment and treatment

  • A role-play demonstrating a strengths-focused interactive online interviewing approach

  • Discussion of relevant research literature

  • Pros and cons of supplementing standardized assessment instruments with interactive interviews when using a tele-mental health platform

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.